Girls In Tech

We are very excited about this weeks Girls in Tech – Santa Cruz event. Veronica Belmont will be coming to speak with us about community building, gaming, girls in technology and what she is currently working on. This event will be a very casual “fireside chat” where audience and group participation is encouraged. We are lucky enough to have the event hosted by the lovely people at NextSpace from 7 – 9 PM on Wednesday, May 13th.

In order to be admitted to the event, you must RSVP here: http://gitsantacruz.eventbrite.com/

Veronica (twitter) is the co-host of Revision3’s tech-centric show, Tekzilla, and Qore on the PlayStation Network. Previous to that, she hosted several other online video shows and podcasts, including Mahalo Daily, Buzz Out Loud, MP3 Insider, and Crave. She also created tech video content for CNET TV, including the popular series Prizefight.

Veronica frequently guest hosts other technology-related podcasts, and also speaks about technology, gaming, and social networking. In her spare time, she hosts the science fiction and fantasy-themed podcast / book club The Sword and Laser. She currently resides in San Francisco, with one technology writer and two cats. She attended Emerson College, B.A. in Audio/Radio, focus in New Media studies.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Tags: community, event, gaming, santa cruz, tech, twitter
Posted in Events, santa cruz | No Comments »

In reading about and viewing videos of Wolfram Alpha and reading about the life of the inventor, Stephen Wolfram, I am excited for him and his invention. I am excited that children will now have a plethora of history, data, and projections at their fingertips. Yet, at the same time it strikes a sour chord of lost opportunities. How do we, as a community of experienced women and mothers with similar experiences, make sure our girls—in particular—are given the opportunity of genius?

I think back to when I was a three-year old girl in the early 70’s without internet, encyclopedias or rocket scientists as parents, my commentary about molecular structures was, unintentionally, dismissed. I remember just knowing that things were made of smaller particles. I had no name for them, but I recall telling my mother on repeated occasions that things were made of “dots on top of dots” until one could see them, and that water had less dots than the furniture and that the air had even less. I did this until one day my mother, tired of my dot theory, exclaimed, “This is a chair! It is wood! This is water! This is air! There are no dots.” The sad reality is that it was not until middle school that I learned of atoms and molecules—lost time and lost learning.

By age sixteen, the 80’s hadn’t progressed much further for girls being seen as inventors. After being symbolically chosen to present at a Science Symposium, my teachers disqualified my thesis that students’ test scores could increase if they listened to classical music while testing. I assumed that they would less likely be distracted and they would become calm and focus better. The teachers claimed if students’ scores improved that I could never prove if students were performing better on the account of music—though the point was to participate in scientific reasoning and possibly spark further research—something the boys were encouraged to do. I never presented; but, ironically years later, UC Irvine researchers discovered that students may actually perform better if they were exposed to, you got it, classical music while learning—coining the term the Mozart Effect.

Fast forward to the late 90’s: What if the processing time of learning could be reduced tremendously (by up to 90%) by tapping into emotional experiences? I conceptualized a learning technique that was the equivalent of the Suez and Panama canals for learning. I mentioned my thoughts in educational circuits. Yet, again, I was met with the same disbelief and discouragement, because I was “just a mom.” So, I set out to get my teaching credential and master’s in education to prove my theory. After seven years of case studies in every grade-level, every economic level, and figuring out how to monetize my concept, I went to funders and pitched. Divorced housewife, mother of three, never worked except as a teacher—dismissed…“Go see Oprah. Maybe she’ll help you.” Well, I hadn’t really thought Oprah had an office in Menlo Park and if I were a man? All things being fair, I guess I would have been told to go see Dr. Phil. But anyway, needless to say, my experiences have allowed me to have an open ear and help develop my students’ theories on life.

For now, it is just wonderful to be in the bosom of women who think, who create, and who believe that their minds and bodies are worthy of attention. But, how do we as the GIT community of women take stake in hearing the voices of our girls when they speak of things that have yet to be created, like the Wolfram Alpha? How do we create a guaranteed platform that will, successfully, develop their genius?

Tags: Girls, GIT, Mozart Effect, supporting, UC Irvine, Wolfram Alpha
Posted in Athens Greece | No Comments »

As college students, we studied hard for four years. We interned at the top companies, every quarter and every summer. The cap and gown are soon to be donned, as we are handed shiny new diplomas, thus signaling the beginning of a new chapter in life.

For many of us, however, that next chapter has yet to be defined. As of April 2009, the United States has an unemployment rate of 8.9% – the highest rate since 1983, or 26 years. That number is set to rise, as a fresh class of graduating seniors are ready to break into the job scene. We are facing the most competitive and scarce job market in recent years.

What is so different about this hiring season?

Hiring: Companies are still hiring, just not as much. According to CareerBuilder.com, 56 percent of employments planned to hire recent college graduates in 2008. This year? Just 43 percent. This translates to fewer positions available for a bevy of students across the nation.

Finances: The signing bonuses and salaries still exist – they are just not as much as anticipated. The power struggle has also flipped – rather than companies courting us with impressive salaries and benefits, we are now competing to get companies to notice us. Out of fear, seniors are apt to take their first offers. Ayesha Galagoda, a graduating mechanical engineer at The University of Texas, says, “People are more scared to wait out for their next offer – it may never appear – and they’re willing to accept whatever they get.”

Threat: This year, possibility of a job offer being rescinding is a legitimate threat. Companies are cautious to take on expenses in the form of new graduates. In December 2008, Caterpillar (the largest construction equipment company) rescinded multiple offers across the nation to May 2009 graduates.

This is not the ideal time to be searching for a job in general, let alone your first job of college.

I am 13 days away from being an official college graduate without a job. Friends and family do not know what tell me, as they too are searching for jobs in every job sector. Rather than be daunted by the economy and scarcity of jobs, I chose to be optimistic and aggressive.

Key Recommendations for the Job Search:

Connections are Vital: Be willing to ask your friends and family for help. If they know someone who works at a company that you’re interested in, have them make an email introduction for you. They will give you access to information not readily available on jobs boards. Accessibility is critical to getting your resume in front of the right people.

Expand Your Job Search: Figure out new ways to apply your degree. Just because your marketing major does not mean you cannot explore other communication jobs, such as public relations or advertising. You are not forever tied down to this job, either. You may have to entertain the idea of moving to a new city or working at a smaller company.

Be Flexible and Patient: This is certainly the hardest advice to follow, especially when you hear it from people who have already have jobs. The emotional stress and mental uncertainty of the future is trying. While a job may not be available immediately, a job will eventually come along. In the mean time, make good use of your time expanding your network and, if possible, do independent work relevant to your industry. I intend to continue writing and researching the tech industry.

Finally, understand this – the job market and economy are both cyclical. Even though the situation looks terrible now, it will improve with time. Your next job may be closer than you think.

Posted in Austin | 1 Comment »

There are some things in this world that really bring people together. Wine is definitely one of them, but have you ever thought of using wine to help you with your career or business? Well, that’s what Julie Brosterman’s seminar series “Close Any Deal Over A Glass Of Wine” is all about.

Julie Brosterman is the Founder/CEO of Women & Wine. Women & Wine is a lifestyle company that creates signature experiences for savvy women (men optional!) who love wine, food, travel and living well. Through their events, and by partnering with the brands they love, Women & Wine connects their members with the people, the places and what’s in the bottle through storytelling (which is their expertise). They also provide lifestyle benefits for women’s organizations and experiential marketing for luxury products. They add a great “tasting element” to all types of events. 

Julie’s seminar “Close Any Deal Over A Glass Of Wine” empowers women in various ways. She shares tips on how to order great wine off the list and save money, to networking at social events to find your next job, to entertaining and throwing high level events, to even asking for financing. Julie is graciously opening up her beautiful home in West Hollywood for this event. Attendees will also have an opportunity to taste and purchase wines straight from her Beverly Hills store, Wine Valet. This is surely not an event to miss!

Please join us on Wednesday, May 27th at 7PM. RSVP and purchase tickets here. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Tags: girls in tech, Los Angeles, women & wine
Posted in Events, Los Angeles | 19 Comments »

Omaha: home to the world’s second richest person, the College World Series and yes, some pretty awesome steaks. But Omaha is also home to a rich and thriving tech community; think NetShops, PayPal and the Peter Kiewit Institute. So it makes perfect sense that Girls in Tech would launch a chapter in Omaha…and that’s exactly what’s happened.

Come celebrate the official launch of Girls in Tech Omaha this Friday, May 8 at Urban Wine Company. The launch coincides with Big Omaha, a gathering of innovators and entrepreneurs including GIT founder Adriana Gascoigne. We’ll be celebrating the women who’ve made their mark in Omaha’s tech community, and it’ll be an opportunity to connect with peers and supporters while having a great time and enjoying a glass of wine. For more details on the launch party, view it on EventBrite or visit the Facebook event.

We’re excited to bring the messages, resources and passion of Girls in Tech to Omaha as well as sharing our community and quirks with you. Look for posts from the members of the Omaha advisory board soon, and get ready to see what is really going on in the Heartland.

Tags: launch, Omaha
Posted in Events | 1 Comment »

What do you call 300 lawyers at the bottom of the ocean?

We have all heard the jokes about how lawyers are the scum of the earth, tearing apart the very moral fiber of a civilized society. Unfortunately this idea has permeated the minds of entrepreneurs so much so that it ends up costing them more in the long run. The idea that someone has to be protected if not represented legally on any and all business deals, documents even intellectual property is a concept not easily grasped by most, and even less so by the current Web 2.0 generation. The effect of this voracious use of the web whether for business or social networking, is that we are in a constant state of information sharing. While there are amazing advantages to this ability to communicate in real time, when it comes to privileged information, information that is sensitive in nature and may be at the very foundation of a business new entrepreneurs are spreading the news so to speak without taking the steps necessary to make sure that they are legally protected.

Why is this happening , and what are the consequences?

Let’s face it, everyone is struggling right now. I am writing this article while contemplating whether I actually am in dire need of the second iced latte or whether that $5 dollars would better serve me in the form of a martini later (definitely the martini). This thought process speaks to the very nature of the problem, money. The idea that startups actually spend money no matter how diminutive on a document as simple as a non-compete/non-disclosure agreement is incomprehensible. People think, “Why do I need to spend money on legal when I’m just showing friends and family?” Or, “I don’t have much to spend, I want every penny to go towards the idea or the product fabrication itself.” This, my friends, is the fundamental difference between an entrepreneur and a savvy businessperson.

So take this as my first tip of many more to come: If you have a unique concept, a developing idea, the next big thing, protect it. Spend a few hundred dollars to make sure that people you reach out to whether for funding or just for advice can’t turn around and rip you off. It happens more then you know.

Tags: intellectual property, legal, money, protect
Posted in Los Angeles | 1 Comment »

A lot of people don’t look forward to Mondays.  It’s usually the start of a long, jam-packed, stressful week — and these days, it’s an even longer week as people work more hours to show their commitment and try to lessen their chances of getting laid off.

At times like these it’s important to bring balance back into our lives.  And I found myself very much looking forward to Monday this week because I had a volunteer appointment with the Homeless Prenatal Program (HPP) in San Francisco.   The charter of HPP is to end family homelessness.  They do this by offering a variety of programs, including helping families find homes, providing drug and family counseling, prenatal and parenting education , family violence prevention, ESL classes, computer classes, and on-the-job-paid internships that prepare formerly homeless mothers for the workforce.   On the day that I volunteered, I distributed food to homeless families. To donate or give the gift of time to HPP, click here.

Now is a great time for us to pitch in, forget our own problems for a little while, and gain perspective and balance by helping those who are struggling with life’s necessities — food, shelter and safety.  There’s no gift like the gift of hope.  And lucky us, there are  so many opportunities for giving.  You can find the cause that resonates most with you through Volunteer Match, or view a calendar of volunteer opportunities at One Brick.  If you’re interested in giving abroad, check out Kiva, the first person-to-person microlending website that allows you to give microloans to the working poor in developing countries.  Today, I loaned money towards a Cambodian woman’s purchase of two cows for breeding and plowing her small plot of land.

A funny thing about volunteering, giving can be extremely rewarding.  My good friend Lisa met her future husband while at a One Brick volunteer outing — they got to know each other while planting flowers in the Golden Gate Park.  A year later I attended their wedding.  Giving and receiving very much go hand in hand.

I hope this blogpost inspires you to give, and I would love to hear about your experiences with volunteering.  Please share your story by adding a comment!

Tags: giving, Homeless Prenatal Program, Kiva, One Brick, Tina Tran, Volunteer, Volunteer Match
Posted in San Francisco | 1 Comment »

In today’s economy, the importance of educating students to be prepared for their future is crucial. As a young entrepreneur, I feel responsible for communicating directly with students and explaining to them the perks of starting and running their own business. With the chaotic behaviors of several corporations, it’s looking more and more appealing for students to graduate college and start their own business.

I’m a huge advocate for internships, I’m actually the “Intern Queen” (http://www.internqueen.com) and I believe that students wanting to go the corporate route or the entrepreneur route should both start with internships. A positive or negative internship experience helps a student learn about who they are and who they want to be.

If I hadn’t interned, I would have no idea how a business is run. Watching and observing different employers and the different processes that went on at each company, I was able to pick and choose which of those I wanted to apply to my own business. I highly suggest internships for future entrepreneurs.

WHY AN INTERNSHIP ? It’s important to encourage students to take the internship initiative. An internship provides a real world experience. Students get to see what it’s like to be part of a team, work in an office environment, manage professional relationships, network, and perform entry-level tasks.

PURSUIT OR ELIMINATION. I held 15 internships during my four years of college. Each internship pointed me in a specific direction. The internships I enjoyed pointed me further into that industry. The internships I didn’t enjoy pointed me away from certain fields. Each experience taught me what I like and what I didn’t like.

THE NETWORKING. The contacts that students can build at an internship are endless. I met hundreds of executives, assistants, and mid-level execs during my internships. Some of these people have gone on to run their own companies, some have gone into other fields. I try to keep in touch with everyone I’ve met through my internships over the years. These people have been instrumental in helping me take the plunge from corporate office to self-starter.

HANDS ON EXPERIENCE.  No one wants to start at the bottom, but sometimes it’s what you have to do. Tasks like making copies, preparing coffee, printing out pages are usually necessary in any entry-level position. Once you know how to do these, you don’t have to waste time learning how to do them once you graduate. These internships put you in a better and more experienced position once you graduate. Along with the crummy tasks are usually some more exciting ones. The perks to interning are getting to sit in on meetings and brainstorming sessions, participating in feedback sessions, meeting clients, getting face-to-face experience with executives, and hopefully  building up your rolodex to help you land a job in the future.

Tags: entrepreneurs start as interns, hollywood internships, interns become entrepreneurs, internships
Posted in Los Angeles | 2 Comments »

Did you know that one of the most vibrant and growing tech scenes is located in Boise, Idaho? According to the Idaho Department of Commerce, the area has more than 350 software and information-technology companies. Although not a large metropolitan city, the local tech community in Boise is thriving. Big tech companies like Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft, and Micron have offices here and the area is booming with tech entrepreneurs and start ups. Boise is often featured as one of the best places to live, work, do business, raise a family and has fabulous outdoor recreation activities such as skiing, hiking, biking, rafting, fishing, and more.  

Next month Boise will launch a brand new chapter of Girls in Tech! We’re so excited to have Girls in Tech representation in the City of Trees and can’t wait to provide a strong community for all women in the Boise tech industry. It can be challenging to find like-minded women to collaborate with in large cities much less smaller places such as Boise. We hope to provide a community where the girl techie’s of Boise can unite and collaborate! 

Launch details coming soon…

City of Trees image by Jason Haberman.

Tags: Boise Girls in Tech, City of Trees Girls in Tech
Posted in All Chapters | No Comments »